Causes of Strawberry Root Rot and Combined Agricultural and Pesticide Control Methods

Author: Strawberry Planting Alliance

I. Strawberry Root Rot

StrawberryAfter root rot occurs, the roots are white. The symptoms are similar to those of root drowning disease. After the underground roots are infected by pathogens, the disease first spreads from the fibrous roots to the branch roots and then gradually to the main root, and the color gradually turns dark brown.

After the disease occurs, the underground roots slowly rot. In the early stage, there are no obvious symptoms on the aboveground stems, but over time, without the roots supplying fertilizer and water, the stems will wither, the branches and leaves will turn yellow, and eventually the plant will die.

Wheat、Strawberry、Scutellaria baicalensis、Salvia miltiorrhiza, Isatis root (Isatis indigotica),Astragalus membranaceus、Pseudostellaria heterophylla、Paeonia lactifloraandCodonopsis pilosulaand others are susceptible to this disease.

II. Main Causes of Strawberry Root Rot

Diseased crops from last year were not thoroughly removed; or because the soil was mounded too high where crops were planted, fertilizing or weeding in furrows on both sides caused damage to the root system; or because during rain or irrigation, the water volume was too large and drainage was not timely; or because of insufficient light, low temperature and high humidity, excessively high soil viscosity, soil clumping, and poor ventilation; also, when the root system is damaged and broken, it is most susceptible to pathogen invasion. Root rot occurs frequently during the rainy season.

III. Characteristics of Strawberry Root Rot

Strawberry root rot is caused by Phytophthora root rot. Large water volume, low-lying areas, poor ventilation, insufficient light, high soil viscosity, and root damage are all main causes of pathogen invasion.

After the disease occurs, the roots gradually change from light brown to dark brown. The pathogens remain in the soil over winter, enter crops the following year through the above causes, and spread through irrigation or rain.

IV. Effective Tips for Controlling Strawberry Root Rot

Controlling strawberry root rot by combining agriculture and pesticides:

1. Agricultural control methods

① Because large amounts of standing water and untimely drainage can trigger this disease, choosing relatively flat soil for planting is also very necessary.

② If the soil in the planting area is uneven, that is fine, but drainage work must be done well to discharge standing water, especially during the rainy season.

③ Excessive soil viscosity easily causes soil clumping, which can easily lead to poor root development.

④ It is forbidden to use any fertilizer that has not been fully decomposed, as all of them can easily increase the incidence of disease.

⑤ Seedbed selection: for crops to be raised, it is best to choose a seedbed that was used for a different crop last year, that is, to practice crop rotation.

⑥ Selecting high-qualityseedsis also a good choice. High-qualityseedscan also resist the occurrence of disease to a large extent.

2. Pesticide control is closely related to hymexazol and metalaxyl-hymexazol

As with other diseases, pesticide control of root rot first involves seed disinfection, then soil disinfection, and finally the choice of medication for root drenching after the disease occurs.

① Seed disinfection before planting. This is also the most common first step to reduce disease.

Amount of medication for seed disinfection: because the area for seeds is smaller compared with soil treatment. Therefore, for seed dressing, relatively lower-concentration solutions can be used. 600-800 times diluted hymexazol or 800-1000 times diluted metalaxyl-hymexazol.

② Soil disinfection before planting. The second step to reduce disease.

For soil disinfection, the dilution used is relatively higher than for seed disinfection. 1200-1500 times diluted hymexazol or 1500-2000 times diluted metalaxyl-hymexazol.

③ Root drenching after disease occurs. The third step to reduce disease.

Root drenching is similar to soil disinfection, and the application area is relatively large, so the dosage is the same. 1200-1500 times diluted hymexazol or 1500-2000 times diluted metalaxyl-hymexazol.

Article source: China Agricultural Products Network

Editor: Senlinmu